Improved window-blind



tant @anni Letters Patent No. 83,286, dated October 20, 1868.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same;

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, of Gincinnati, in thecounty of Hamilton, andv State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Venetian Shutters, &`c.;.and the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this -speciicatiou My invention relates to a novel and simple construction of slats, and mode of mounting the same in Venetian window-shutters, blinds, doors, and lower windows or openings, for .the purpose of making the same burg-l lar-proof. i

It consists- First, in the use of cylindrical rods of metal, (steel or wrought-iron preferred,) as the axles of said slats, lsaid rods being extended entirely across the frame in which they Vare used, and iirmly fastened at their ends in the material thereof.

Second, in the use of metallic slats, constructed with a tubular or hollow, sphere in the centre, extending through longitudinally, and made to turn freely on the said rods.

Third, in the use cfa soft metallic bushing, with an external annular flange inserted in the ends of the said slats, for the purpose of lessening their friction on the said rods, and holding them out of contact with the frame.

In the drawings- A Figure l represents an inside view, partly in section on the line x-x, fig. 2, of a shutter or blind illustrating my invention, the slats being shown in a partially-` opened position. Figure 2 is avertical section in the planes indicated l by the line y-y, iig. 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation illustrating a modification in the manner of turning the slats.

Figure 4 represents a vertical section at -y-y, iig. 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation illustrating another modification.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section at y-y, iig. 5.

A represents a frame, of wood or other suitable material, which may be of any of the customary forms and dimensions.

`B`B are cylindrical rods` or tubes, preferably of steel or wrought-iron, of a suliicient diameter to afford the requisite strength and rigidity.

These rods are seclnedy 'n the frame A, when made oi' wood, by being driven into deep sockets, a., in either two parallel sides thereof, (for vertical or horizontal slats,) and form the axles on which the slats revolve.

C C are slats, preferably formed of sheet-metal or malleable. iron, in the manner shown in iig. 2, being provided with a longitudinal tubular portion, c, for the reception of the rods B, on which they are mounted.

The tube c is of sufliciently greater diameter than the rods B, toallow of an annular space being left around them, when in position, to adapt them to be thus supported; and they are provided at their ends with softmetal bushings, D, which form the bearing-surfaces of the slats, relieving them, for the greater portion of their length, of friction, and obviating the necessity of perfect rotundty of surface, the absence of which might l otherwise preventtheir operation.

The bushings D have formed, o n their4 outer ends, annular ilanges or shoulders, el, which form washers to support the ends of the'slats out of contact with the frame, and thus prevent'friction` at those points.

One or. both ofthe edges of the slats C are provided with a wire, E, for the purpose of stiffening them, and one of said wires in each slot, in connection with a notch, c', which may be made .at any preferred point in the length of the slat, forms a staple for the attachment of the adjusting-rod F, or other attachmentfor that purpose.

The rod F may be provided, for the reception of' the wires E, with suitable eye-bolts or staples, f, or other customary contrivance.

It Vis also provided with notches, f f', for the reception of the tubular portion, c, of the slats,.when in their closed position.

a a are the customary notches or recesses, for the reception of the ends of the rod F, when the slats are in their extreme positions.

In the illustration given in figs. 3 and 4, the connecting-rod F is dispensed with, the simultaneous movement of the slats being effected by idle-pinions, p, gearing Vwith toothed thimbles, d', which perform all the fimctions of the thimbles or bushings d,vhereinbefore described. v

In the modification represented in'fgs. 5 and 6, the idle-pinions, p, are dispensed with, and the turning of the slats eifected .by a vertically-sliding rack, r, gearing with the toothed thimbles d.

The handle or knob h, by which the rack fr is moved, may form aK nut, working upon a screw-stud on the rack o-,and serving as a clamp to ,secure the rack in any position.

When the toothed thimbles d and p'mions p or racks o' are used, they may be concealed Within the windowcasing, as illustrated in the drawings.

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 represent portions of the aming removed to expose these appliances.

The rods B, being imly locked in the sides of the frame, serve, in addition to their primary function, to strengthen and brace it, thus obviating the necessity of-the intermediate cross-pieces or battens customarily used, and adapting a blind or door to be provided with slats for its whole length, if desired, and all the slats in one tier `to be connected and simultaneously operated, or connected and moved in smaller sections, if desired.

The material of which the separate parts of' my shut ter are composed, and also the precise form named for tion.

It is also obvious, that although my invention is primarily intended to render the structures in which it is used burglar-proof, and at the same time a'ord the desirable means for regulating the achnission of light, air, 85o., some or all of the separate parts thereof may be used in blinds, &c., for openings which do not require to be guarded against burglaiious attempts at entrance.

It is also obvious that a portion only of the slats of a blind or other structure may be provided with my improved slats, the other part having the ordinary stationary ones, when preferred, Without departing om the invention.

I am aware that metallic pivots have before been used in blind-slats, but the peculiarity of my device consists in employing stationary rods, which form a rigid connection between the Stiles, and upon which the slats turn. i

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The through cylindrical rod B, xedV rigidly in the stiles, as an axle for a slat in Window-blinds, shutters, doors, and lower windows or openings to turn upon, substantially as herein described.

2. The metallic slat, when formed With a tubular or hollow spine, running longitudinally through the same, and made to turn on the said cylindrical rods.

3. The bushings D, when provided with the annular flange cl, adapted to form a washer at the end of the slat, for the purpose specified.

` VILLIAM JOHNSTON. NVitnesses:

WM. H. BRERETON, Jr., OcTAvIUs KNIGHT. 

